Jasper group proposing a revision of current sign ordinance

At Wednesday’s Jasper Planning Commission meeting, Nancy Eckerle, Executive Director of the Jasper Chamber of Commerce, advised the commission that the Jasper Chamber and Jasper Action Team are in the process of reviewing and rewriting the Jasper Sign Ordinance.

A committee formed of several representatives from the two organizations has been meeting to formulate changes to be presented to the Planning Commission within the next few months. Eckerle was at the meeting on Wednesday to request a representative of the Jasper Planning Commission attend the final few meetings to offer insight and oversee the process.

The planned changes do not include increased sign sizes but are designed to make the ordinance more easily understood by business owners and to deal with future sign issues that will come up as new technology develops. The group is also looking at setting up districts such as Old Jasper and Downtown Jasper that would have guidelines for signage in those areas to maintain a certain appearance.

Another issue being addressed deals with the re-purposing of warehouses and factories.  These empty buildings in Jasper have been re-purposed as multi-tenant business offices and although the building may hold several small business offices, the same sign restrictions apply as if it were a single business under the current ordinance.

Darla Blazey, the Jasper Director of Building/Planning/Zoning, stated the plan falls in line with several changes designed to make it easier and more attractive to open a business in Jasper. Other actions include the development of brochures that outline processes for prospective businesses and a more comprehensive website that is user-friendly.

The action to revise the sign ordinance began as a response to a survey that was given to Jasper Chamber members in which many stated they were unaware of the current sign ordinance. The group is reviewing sign ordinances from local cities and towns as well as Indiana cities of comparable size throughout the state to gather insight into the proposed changes.

Blazey stated she didn’t think a comprehensive review and revision of the sign ordinance had been done since 1993. “Even our website doesn’t say ‘Hello business. This is what you need from the city’, so that’s why we need to develop this packet.”

The changes will be presented to the Planning Commission for approval before being sent to the Common Council for adoption.